Industrial Mining
The majority of cobalt mined globally – and in the DRC – comes from industrial mining operations. These operations are capital-intensive, highly mechanised, and characterised by high production rates, typically managed by large or global companies.
Cobalt is mined around the world, mostly as a by-product from copper and nickel, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Australia, the Philippines and Cuba. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is by far the world’s largest producer of cobalt, with cobalt primarily extracted in the Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces of the Copperbelt region. This region, located in the southeastern part of the country near the border with Zambia, is geographically separate from the eastern DRC, where security challenges persist due to armed groups and instability.
The cobalt mining industry provides the resources necessary for creating and developing modern materials and enabling technological progress, as well as ensuring environmental stewardship, social welfare, and infrastructure development.
Cobalt Institute’s members are committed to contributing positively to local economies and improving the living standards of nearby communities. Artisanal miners and their dependents also play an integral role in these communities.
Responsible and traceable cobalt from industrial mining is not only possible but verifiable. Cobalt Institute’s members are establishing greater transparency in the value chain through the implementation of traceability systems.
They also undertake third-party assurance of responsible sourcing approaches in accordance with standards, including the Responsible Minerals Initiative and the Copper Mark, among others.
These standards and systems are essential for achieving access to market and regulatory compliance, as they demonstrate continuous improvements in environmental, social and governance issues at site-level.